Spring has sprung already at Target...

In addition to already putting out Valentine's Day merch and the new Hearth & Hand offerings, Target has also put out new Threshold displays for Spring (as shown here). There's lots of flowers and pretty prints, in bright hues mixed with navy.

And if you're still bargain hunting, Target has all their holiday merchandise marked down to 50-70% off, with the deepest discounts on the seasonal food items and Christmas lights. Look for most of these deals in the back of the store, in the area that was formerly the Holiday Wondershop.

The Look for Less: Gibson vs. A New Day

I've been a huge fan of these twist-front tees from Gibson (shown far left) at Nordstrom. What I wasn't a fan of was the price, at almost $50 a pop. That's why I was overjoyed to find this dupe by A New Day (at Target) for just $20 each! My one complaint is that the Target version only comes in two colors, whereas the Gibson tee is available in a wide array of hues.

Hearth and Hand: Sale on SOME items

Yesterday I visited a Target store in San Jose I don't usually go to, and left confused by their markdowns. While the Hearth and Hand with Magnolia wrapping paper and trim and holiday ornaments were 50% off in the store, they're only 40% off online. To further confound things, the store had many items (like this doormat) in the clearance section, but it still rang up at full price. On the other hand, these adorable stoneware dessert bowls with gold trim rang up half off in the store, but are still full price online. The takeaway here is that if you find something from H&H in stores, price-check it before you assume it's on sale.

Holiday Creep: Christmas Edition

Target has outdone itself this year. Last holiday season, they at least waited until the Day after Christmas to put out their Valentine's Day merchandise. But this year they're getting a head start, as proven by this photo I snapped in the Dollar Aisle this morning.

While Target is rushing the holidays, I hope you and yours take time to slow down, reflect on the year past, and enjoy the joys of the season. Merry Christmas, dear readers!

New Hearth & Hand Hitting Target on 12/26...

Back on Thursday I noticed that the Target near my office was already putting away the current Hearth & Hand with Magnolia collection and putting out new Spring merchandise. And sure enough, the very same day, A Bullseye View posted this announcement that the collab's first refresh will include 140 new items including home office accessories.

Since then, I've visited two other Target stores, and they too have already put out the new Hearth & Hand merchandise. So if you can't wait until the 26th to check it out, head over to your local Target today, or peruse this preview on Target.com. Despite the refresh, my opinion on this collab remains the same: the stuff is cute, but so far I haven't seen anything I really want or need.

Target changes clearance stickers from red to yellow...

Remember a couple of months ago when I told you Target was replacing their old red clearance endcap signs with yellow ones? Well guess what? Now it looks like Target is also rolling out the yellow to their clearance stickers, as shown here. I'm still not a fan. Red speaks "stop" or "look" to me, whereas yellow does not.

Sale Alert: Smith & Hawken Amaryllis Bulb Kit

Every year, the Smith & Hawken Amaryllis Bulb Kits are always a popular item at Target, often selling out in stores before the holidays. And this week, they're on sale for $12 each (regularly $12.99) making them perfect for a last-minute gift exchange present or hostess gift. Choose from a red bloom in a red ceramic pot (shown) or cream pot, a red/white bloom in a cream pot, or a white bloom in a mint-green pot.

Clearance Alert: Nate Berkus Office Supplies

Although not marked down online, I noticed that all the Nate Berkus for Target office supply merchandise has been put on clearance at 30% off at my local store. That includes this cute fabric wastebasket, which you can also use as a storage bin. As I mentioned a couple of months ago, it sounds like the entire Nate Berkus line is being phased out of Target, so get your hands on this stuff while you still can.

Double-Take: Restoration Hardware vs. Christopher Knight Home at Target

It's time for another double-take, where we take one item from Tar-shay and match it up against a lookalike - yet pricier - designer piece. Today we have two cushy arm chairs, both with weathered oak frames. But one of them is from Restoration Hardware and will set you back a whopping $1,495, while the other is from Christopher Knight Home (available online from Target) and costs less than half that at $700. Which one is which? The answer is in the comments section below.

Fab Find: Threshold Gold Mixing Bowl Set

Reader Cotton Candy sent me this latest find: a set of shiny gold mixing bowls by Threshold. At just $24.99 for a set of three, these stainless steel bowls can be used to whip up a variety of holiday treats. And with their non-skid silicone base, they can be used as festive serving bowls as well. The only bummer is that they are hand-wash only (and are not dishwasher safe).

Green Monday Deals at Target

Today is Green Monday, aka the day when everyone panics about getting their online purchases in time for Christmas. Ebay coined the term "Green Monday" more than a decade ago after it noticed an uptick in orders on a particular day. It traditionally falls on the second Monday in December, the last day with at least 10 days left to order before Christmas. This year, it's December 11.

Green Monday has become the biggest online shopping day in December, and one of the biggest of the year. And in honor of Green Monday, Target is running an online-only deal: save $20 for every $100 you spend on gifts for just about everyone on your list. Limit $100 savings in total, and restrictions apply, so check here for all the details.

Target's fashion turn: I'm just not feeling it

I honestly didn't know what title to attach to this post. Regular readers of this blog know that I haven't been a big fan of Target's new fashion offerings, as cited here and in other posts in recent months. In fact, yesterday on my lunch break I wandered around the Target store near my office really trying to find something to buy, but nothing enticed me enough to even try on.

When Target carefully curates their styles, as on their TargetStyle Facebook page and in fashion posts on their corporate blog, they can encourage me to buy - like this red plaid A New Day dress that I may give a try. But for the most part, I'm just not feeling them anymore. The upside is that I'm saving a lot of money (lol!) but the downside is that I haven't found another fashion outlet to fill Target's void yet.

New at Target: Tazo Desert Delights Tea

Want a sweet taste minus the calories? Then head on over to Target to try Tazo's new Dessert Delights tea. Their dessert-inspired tea blends have all the flavor without the guilt. Available in Vanilla Bean Macaron (shown) as well as Glazed Lemon Loaf and Butterscotch Brownie. Just $3.49 a box, but on sale this week for only $2.49!